Die for forming plastic materials into threads or ribbons



April 23, 1940. M. TANzl 2,197,988

DIE FOR FORMING PLASTIC MATERIALS INTO THREADS OR RIBBONS v l FiledMarch 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l l I l l l \1\ \x\ \X\\\ April 23,1940.

M. 'rANzl DIE FOR FORMING PLASTIC MATERIALS INTO THREADS 0R RIBBONSFiled March 5, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patenten Apr. 23, 1940' DIE FoaFoaMlNG PLASTIC MATERIALS rNTo THREADS on alBBoNs Mario Tann, emma, nl.,minor to The John B. Canepa Company, Chicago, lll.

vApplication Mmn 3,1939, serial Nmzseszs 18 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in diesy and associated parts usedin the manufacture of spaghetti and similar paste products.

It has been found that the manufacture of macaroni and other alimentar-ypaste products can be carried on most expeditiously if the strands orthreads are extruded from a horizontally extending die in such a mannerthat they will hang downwardly in close formation so as to form asubstantially continuous sheet. The die employed will necessarily be ofalength much' greater than the diameter of the pressure chamber fromwhich the dough is forced through the.

, forming die. It also is very desirable that the threads or strandsissue from the die at substantially uniform speed throughout its length.

A horizontally extending channel vwhich communicates with the pressurechamber is provided in order to supply the dough to the end portions 0fthe die. As the dough or mix used in making macaroni and the like iscomparatively dry and therefore of relatively thick or heavyconsistency, -it offers considerable resistance to travel along thehorizontal channel vand thus, in order that 25v the dough be fed to thedie at a substantially uniform pressure throughoutits length, it isnecessary that the flow of the dough from said channel to a passageoverthe die be retarded at points adjacent to the pressure chamber to agreater extent than at points remote Vfrom the pressure chamber.

One of theobjects of the invention is the pro- I vision of Spreadingmeans located between the pressure chamber and the die whereby the doughis caused to be fed to the die at'substantially uniform pressurethroughout its length.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a laterallyextending channel or passage which Vfreely communicates with.. thepressure o chamber and a second laterally extending channel whichcommunicates through the die, a baille being positioned between the twochannels and arranged to form a distributor or spreader which -oifers aresistance to the passage of the dough from the first channel to thesecond which with the bores or holes ber. The baille and spreader willpreferably comprise a pair of plates,

will bespaced apart to provide a slot therebetween through which thedough is adapted `to pass from the rst channel tothe second. The slotthus provided will be of Varying width, being narrowest adjacent to thepressure chamber and gradually increases from the ends of the channelsto the point where the first' channel communicates with the pressurechamadjacent edges of which gradually increasing in widtlixtowards theends of the channels. As a modification, the slot may be ofsubstantially uniform width throughout its length, but of varying depth.In this case the depth o'f the slot will be relatively slight adjacentto the ends and will gradually increase toward the pressure chamber. y

A further feature consists of forming one side wall of the slot insections and providing means.

whereby the several sections may be separately adjusted toward or fromthe opposing wall of the slot. By this means, if it is found that'thedough is being fed to a portion of the die, either too slowly or toofast, the adjustable section or sections of the slot wall overlying thissection of the die can be readily adjusted toward or from the other wallso as to secure uniformieed of the dough to the die throughout itslength.

In the operation of the device, the dough is forced through the passagesand the die openings under comparatively high pressure. As the doughilrmly adheres to the walls of the passages and die a short time after arun is stopped, it isA the distributor or spreading means `may bequicklyand easily separated and the die removed therefrom to permit easyinspection and cleaning. Other features and advantages will appear asthe description progresses. f It is believed that the structure andoperation oi theinvention will be understood most easily froma detaileddescription thereof taken in con, nectionwithl the accompanying drawingsin which Fig. l is atop plan view schematically indicat- -ing thepressure chamber and a pairof die structures associated therewith, oneof the die strucl tures being shown in horizontal better show certain ofthe parts;

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig.1 which shows how the pressure chamber commucross-sectlon to nlcateswith the die structure;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to the lower part of Fig.

1, but shows the form of spreader in which the slot increases in widthtowards the ends of the die;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4, looking in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but taken on the line 8 6 0f F155:

' wardly. as shown at '24 in Fig. 3. The rib` 23and 4flared portion 24on die 2I`aist in accurately positioning the die when the blocks 'I8 and20 are placed in engagement,` as well as prevent,l

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the die showing the arrangement of the bores orholes therethrough, and f Fig. y8 is an end view of one of the diestructures showing the clamping means which rmly 'reference charactersindicate the same parts in the diierent views, I0 indicates a pressurechamber which so far as the pressure producing means is concerned, maybe of any desired character, such as the piston and screw propellingmeans commonly employed. The opposite walls of the pressure chamber I0,adjacent tothe end thereof, are provided with the threaded openings IIwhich receive, respectively, the threaded portions of the pipes or tubesI2. The pipes I2 ter"- minate well within the cylinder I0 so as toreceive the dough under pressure therein. The outer ends of pipes I2 arescrew threaded as shown at I5 in Figs. 1 and 3. The screw threaded endsI5 are received in the threaded openings I6 in the hub I1 which may bexed to or formed integralwith the bar or block I8.- Within each hub I1and bar I8 and communicating with the opening I6 and pipe I2 therein, isa recess I9,

which broadens laterally and'inwardly from the openings I8, as shown inFig.. 1, but contracts y vertically and inwardly, as seen in Fig. 3'.Secured to the block or bar I8, in a manner which will presently bedescribed, is a block or bar 20 (Fig. 3). The die 2l is positioned in arecess formed adjacent to the lower edges of trie blocks slot. Lock nuts35 maybe provided to maintain I8 and 20. -Block I8 is provided with thelaterally extending groove ,22 which receives the A similarly shaped rib23 at the top edge of die 2l. The opposite upper edge of the die 2l Yisflared youtdownward movement of the die* relative to `the supportingblocks.

Formed in block- 20, above recess within which-are mounted the baillemembers4 26 and ,21. Both the baffle `members are preferably formed ofrelatively short sections, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

Above the bailies 26and 21 is a channel 28 -and below the said baffles,but above die 2l, vis a second channel 2 8. By lreference to'Fig. 3,it,` will be seen that the bailles 26 and 21 are spaced apart to leave aslot 30 therebetween.

Before further describing the details cants-structure, a generalAdescription of its operation will be given. The die-of the deviceherein disclosed is much greater in length than the diameter of cylinderI8. It, therefore,' isj necessary \to .provide means vto distribute thedough forced from cylinder t8 so as to be de,-

livered to the die substantially4 equally through@- .Y

out'its lellsiih-` Thus, the mix issuing from a pipe .I2 passesoutwardly through the laterally flared recess I9 in hub I1 and block I8and tends to spread and flow toward the ends of the die. If desired, theblock 4I8 may be provided,

opposite the pipe I2, 'with a generally-.triangular abutment 3| whichwill tend to splitthe stream of dough and deect a part of it i eachdirec-4 tion. From the recess I8, the dough enters the upper channel 28in block 2li. In order to pass from channel. 28 to channel 28v4 andthence to die 2l.. the dough must pass through the comthe die 2|. is' aof apupl-I'".

forms of the invention', it is-.beheve'd unnecessary. vto describevthestructure, of Figs. 4, 5v and 6,

paratively narrow slot 30. The opposing walls of baille sections 2G and21 are of greater verti-` cal area at the point where the dough hascomparatively free access to channel 28 than adjav cent to the endsthereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

It has been found that a slot of considerable vertical area offers amuch-greater resistance to the passage of the dough therethrough than itdoes adjacent to the ends wherev the slot is shal- -lower. It will nowbe evident that the passage and the vertical dimensions of the vdierentsections of the slot 30, the dough may be caused to ow,'under pressure,to the .ends o f the channel 28 and through the slot 30-to1the channel29 and die 2 I at substantially the same speedandv pressure as prevailscentrally thereof.

In order to closely regulate the ow of dough to the lower channel 29,means are provided. to separately adjust the baille sections 21 to or'from the opposed sections 26. This adjusting means is shown particularlyin Figs. l and 3 of the drawings. Rotatably xed in each of the bafyilesections 21 is one end 320i a screw tlreaded member 33 which is threadedthzroughan open- `mg- 34 in meneer-.2o. 'n willi thus be'evident that byturning a threaded member 33, the corresponding baille'v section may beeasily adjusted with precision toward or from section 26. Thus, the iiow'o f dough through slot 30- can be accu'- r'atelyvcontrolled throughoutthe length of the the threaded members 33 in adjusted position.

is a bar 38,.provided-with openings 31 through which -the screws33-extend'. 'I'he bar 36 serves to protect the lock nuts 35 and screws33 and tends to prevent accidental displacement of bafe sections21.` Theends of channels 28 and 29 and slot 3l! arecapped by blocks 38 held inposition in any desired manner. .l The structure shown in Figs. ,4, 5and 6 is similar to that of Fig. 1,'. but differs from the struc-` ture'justdescribed solely inthe character of the spreaderl slotprovidedbetween the baille sections. Inview'of the' fact that thestructures are, for the -most part, the same, the-'parts in Figs. 4, 5and 6 will be designated by the same reference characters as, likepartsin Figs. 1, 2

and 3, but preceded in each case by the digit 2.

Thus, the block I8 of Fig. 1 -becomes block 2I8 in Fig; 4.- Due tothegeneral similarity in the two other thanto explain how it differs fromthe form showninliigs.v 12ahd 3.. Y

It will be recalled that the slot 38 of the structure,'frst described,is of substantially uniform width throughout its length -but the depth'of the-slot, between'the opppsedsurfaces of the baiiles, decreases froma point generally centrally thereof toward the ends.

l 1n Figs. 4, 5 and s, niet opposing walls of 'the names 22s anden,between which the Slot '23o is formed, are-of substantially uniformdepth Itis evident that the twogexpedients employed "i aisance may becombined in one structure ifdesired. For

io i in the die zi is shown. 1t win be nctedthat two rows of the holes40 are provided closely adjacent to each other. It will also be noted`that the holes of one row or series are staggered or alternate withthose -of the other. 'Ihus,when 15 4the threads of spaghetti or macaroniissuing from the holes 4B are folded over the supporting rod,v

the threads lie close together so as to form practically continuoussurface. y

The means for detachably securing blocks" 80 and 20 together will now bedescribed. Block` I8 is provided in the face thereof with a generallytriangular groove 4| arranged to receivel a similarly shaped rib 43which projects fromthe' ad'- jacent tace of block 2li. Thisgrooveandribf il act to definitely position the. blocks. relative .to eachother when they are forced-into intimate contact by the clamping means,shown particularlyinFig.`8. j

The block i8 is provided on its upper edge with 8o the upwardlyextending projecting Portions '44.

Each portion 44 is recessed to receive a threaded device 45, as shown inFig. 1. Part 44 isalso provided at each side with a notch or slot 44which forms bearings for the ti'unniori's 41 ilxed 35. with thethreadedpart is.

The block 20 is providedw ith hui'ups-orprojections 4 8 which arepositioned opposite the projecting portions 44. Each ofthehumps 44, atthe top thereof, has a recess, shawn. at 4I, adapted to 1g receive 'acollaril on the screwmemberll. The

threaded portions l2 of the screws 5l liiiie received .by the threadedblocks 0r nuts 4l.- Ahand wheel 53 is provided at the end of each screwIl: by.

means of which the screw maybe rotated.

u 5 with the biccka vis and :l inintimate contact.

as shown inv Fig. s. if it is deeited tc'seiiarate `the blocks for thepurpose of cleaning the internal 'channels or to remove the die 2i,the'screwsli will be rotated in an anticlockwisedirection by means u .ofthe handwheels Il, until rib 4I has been moved out of groove 4I,whereupon block 42l screws '5i may be rotated upwardly about trunnions4l until the desired partsare made accessible.

'when it is desired tc retuign"hiccic :itc cpera- Il tive pomtion, itwill be. rotated, downwardly. until.

-rlb 42 is positioned opposite groove 41.11, now. 'screws Il berotatedin a clockwise direction.' rib 42 will be forced into groove.4in-and when-the blocks have been'drawn into -iirm "contact, they 30|willheat heidreadyrecuperation.v

It is to be understood -that the invention'is in;

' no waylimited totheuseo! thepressure chamber disclosed, norto the useof two die structures,- u suchas illustrated in ll'ig. 1. It,a`.lso,is'o bviou.ii

thatthe die or dies may be located belowthe presg; sure chamber, insteadof at the side thereof, in which case'the dough would ilow. to the'upperchannel of the spreader in a downward direction- 70 instead oflaterally.

' While in the drawings andthe above description certain preferredembodiments ot the inven-i l tion are disclosed, other Vmocliilcatioiisthereof may be made without departing from the spirit ot the invention.The 'invention should.

adjacent to said die, a passage joiningsaid prestherefore, be limitedonly by the scope of the.

appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure byLetters Paten t of the United States is: A I

1. In adevice of' the character described. a"

`pressure chamber, an elongated di, a-channel adjacent to said die, apassagioining' said p res- Vsure chamber to'said channel, and abaule-between said channel and saiddie, s aid baille being pro- 10 videdwith a slot joining said channel t0 said diei" said slot being ofvarying cross' sectional area.

2. In a device of. tlie character 'described, a

'pressure chamber, an elongated die, achannel adjacent-to said die, agenerally v -shapedpassage 13 Joining said pressure chamber -tosaidchanneli" andA a baille between said channel and said die',said'baille beingprovided with a slot ,foining said' channel to saiddie, said slot being. 0i less cross sectional. area at points remotefrom' said pressurel l0 chamber than it is adjacentjtherto.

3. In a device of the character. described, .a

pressure chamber, an elongated die, a channel adjacent to' said die, apassage joining said pressure chamber to saidchannel, anda baillebetween said channel and said die,- said badje lacing` p ro vided with asict. jciningaaid channel tc said die and extending substantially'totheends thereof. 4.v In a deviceb! the character described, a

Vpressure chamber, an elongated die.' a hiiilllleljV l adiacent'to saiddie, a passage joiningy saidpres" sure chamber to said channel, and abaille between said channel. and said die, saidbafii being pro'-viddwith a slot joining said'channel to-said die, I

said slot graduallyv increasing in conductivity iro l a point oppositesaidpassae'to p0ints adjacen to the ends of said die.

5. In a device ofthe described, a pressurechamber, an elongatedv die,afchannel (0 sure chamber to said channel, and a baille said channel andsaid die, said baille being pro-- vided with a vslot joining saidchannel-to said die,

' Said 310i mdually decreasing in cross muon frOm a point opposite saidpassage to points adiacent to the ends of said die.

e. ma device-cf thecharacter described, a

pressure chamber. an die,V a channel sage joining said preure to saidchanl0 fnel, and a baille between saidcliannel and said `die,"saidbaille being provided rwith aslotioining saidV channel to'said die.said. s lot gradually'. de,- creasing in cross section-' froui a pointopposite saidpassage to points adiacenti@ the ends oi' said il i die. r

f1. In a device crine character deacribed, a. -messurechamben a d i e suppo t an elongated die carried thereby, a adiaf cent to saiddie. 'apassage ioixfiingu 40 chamber tc said channel., a bilis between @aid tchannel and said die, said baie being provided "with a slot Joining.channel to said die'and means,v perableiromtlie exterior ot saiddie-support, tor-varying the width oi said slot. 45. e. In a 'device-ofthefcha'racter described, a

apressure chamber, a diesupport. an elongated die carriedtherebnachannel in said support addacent to said die,` ioiningsaid pressurechamber'to said channel. a baille between said'fo'- channel andsaid-die, said baile being Dl'vlded -with aslot otva'rying cross sectionJoining-said y channeltosaiddieandmeana'operable from-the extendicraaididic tciwidth 9. In a'device of the character described, a pressurechamber, a die support, an lelongated die carried thereby, a channel insaid support adjacent to said die, a generally -V-shaped passagejoiningL said pressure chamber to said channel, a baiiie between saidchannel and said die, said baille being provided with a slot joiningsaid chanvnel to said die, said slot -varying in cross section from apoint opposite said passage to points adjacent to the ends of said dieand means, operable from the exterior of said die support, for varyingthe width of said slot.

10. In a device of the character described, a

,laterally extending die support having a channel formed therein, adiecarried by said support, a l

second channel in said support overlying said die and freelycommunicating therewith, opposed bailles positioned between saidchannels arranged to" provide a slot therebetween, .and means foradjusting one of said bafiles to or from the opposed baille.

12. In a dev'ice of the character described, a laterally extending 'diesupport having a channel formed therein, a die carried by said support,a second channel in said support overlyingsaid die and freelycommunicating therewith, opposed bales positioned between said channelsarranged to provide a slot therebetween, one of said bailles comprisinga series of sections and means for separately adjusting said sections toor from theopposed balile.

13. In a device of the class described, a pressure chamber, an elongateddie support having a channel therein, said channel being arranged tocommunicate with the interior of said pressure between, characterized inthis that the slot gradually ltapers from a point adjacent to said pres--sure chamber to the ends of said channels where- 55 by -passage fromthe ilrst-mentioned` channel to the second channel is retarded to agreater degrec. adjacent -tothe pressure chamber than at the ends of thechannels.

' 14. In a device of the class described, a pres- 59 sure chamber, alaterally extending die support having an elongated horizontallyextending chan- .nel therein, said channel being arranged to communicatewith the interior of said pressure chamber, a laterally extendingvdiecarried by said support, said support being provided with. a secondchannel overlying said die and freely vcommunicating therewith, and apair of baille members positioned between said channels. said baulemembers being positioned to provide a slot therebetween, characterizedin this that the slot gradually tapers from a point adjacent to saidpressure chamber to the ends of said channels whereby passage from thefirst mentioned channel to the second channel is retarded to a greaterdegree adjacent to the pressure chamber than at the ends of thechannels.

15. In a device of the class described, a pressure chamber, a laterallyextending die support having an elongated horizontally extending channeltherein, said channel being arranged to communicate with the interiorofsaid pressure chamber, a laterally extending die carried by saidsupport, saidSDDOrt being provided with a second channel overlying saiddie and freely communicating therewith, a pair of baille memberspositioned between said channels, said baille members being positionedto provide a slot therebetween, characterized in this-that the said slotgradually tapers from a point adjacent tosaid pressure chamber to theends of said channels whereby passage from the mst-mentioned channel tothe second channel is retarded to a greater degree adjacent to thepressure chamber than at the ends of the channels, and means fordifierently adjusting the width of said slot throughout its length.

16. In a device of the class described, a macaroni die, a pair of blocksbetween which said die Ais supported, and clamping means for detachablysecuring said blocks together, said clamping means consisting of athreaded rod, a member in screw threaded engagement with the threads onsaid'rod piv'otly supportedin one of said blocks and a collar on saidrod, remote froml said threaded member, mounted in the other block ofsaid pair. e

17. In a device of the class described, a

, macaroni die, a pair of blocksbetween which said die is supported, andclamping means for detachably securing said blocks together, saidclampingfmeans consisting of a threaded rod, a hand hold at one end ofsaid rod, a member in screw threaded engagement with the threads on saidrod pivotally supported in 'one of said blocks and a collar on said rod,remote from said threaded member, mounted in the other block of saidpair, whereby said blocks may be forcibly,` separated or brought intofirm engagement.

18. In a device of 'the class described,` a macaroni die, a pair ofblocks between which said die is supported, a projecting rib on one ofsaid blocks, the other of said blocks being provided with a groovearranged to receive said rib whereby said blocks are positioned relativeto each other, clamping means fordetachably-securing said blocks'together,.said clamping means consisting of a threaded rod, a hand holdat one end'of; said rod, a-member in screw threaded engagen'ientwith-the threads on said rod pivotally supported in one of said blocksand a collar on said rod, remote from said threaded member, mounted inthe other block of said pair.

MARIO TANzL

